Representatives of the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), the independent international safety organization, are showcasing here at the NBAA Convention the latest initiatives focused on the business aviation community. These efforts include development of a security risk assessment tool, an update of the FSF’s Fitness for Duty standards and setting best practices for inexperienced operators in regions undergoing rapid growth in business aviation activity.
Peter Stein, chairman of the FSF’s Business Advisory Committee (BAC), one of the representatives at the FSF display (Booth 3793), said the strong connection between the FSF and business aviation is often overlooked. “In the past there was a misperception in the business aviation community that the Flight Safety Foundation was airline-centric,” he said, noting that, “the majority of the membership represents business aviation interests.”
BAC provides advice and support on issues relevant or germane to the business aviation community in helping the FSF meet its safety mission. The new security risk assessment tool, PRIFISE, developed by BAC member Thomas Anthony, falls squarely within that purview. Initially created for operators that fly in support of humanitarian missions, the tool is now being adapted to business aviation operators, where FSF believes it will have broad application.
Security Risk Assessment
Taking its name from its acronym, PRIFISE is a seven-elementoutline analogous to a flight risk assessment tool that covers all components of an aviation security plan: the plan, roles, intelligence, fences-gates-barriers, identification of friend or foe, search/screen and emergency response. The elements are derived from the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices in Annex 17 and are adaptable to a basic security plan of any size or complexity, from a single aircraft mission to the civil aviation security plan of a country or state. The ultimate goal of PRIFISE is to provide a tool for pilots to operate in aviation environments where little or no outside infrastructure or aviation security support is provided.
This initiative has taken on greater urgency amid concerns regarding flights over regional conflicts in the wake of the downing of MH 17 over Ukraine in July. “These [conflicts] have direct impacts that business aviation could feel,” said Stein, who in his day job is director of flight operations for a Fortune 100 manufacturing company. “They fly the same routes as major carriers, especially on Europe-Middle East routes.” Ultimately, PRIFISE will be available in “an electronic iPad-type tool,” he added.
Stein noted that the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program is currently developing an automated checklist/risk assessment tool based on these same elements for the World Food Program and the Flight Safety Foundation. This automated checklist/risk assessment tool contains two additional functions: a reference/guidance library that indexes to the individual PRIFISE elements; and a security Pirep section that allows for the reporting and viewing of individual security hazards that are organized by location.
Duty Fitness
Fitness for Duty is another key initiative, addressed in response to operators’ “ongoing desire for updated guidance on how to address flight and duty time for business aviation,” Stein said. The topic has become more critical with the growing range of business jets. “If I’m flying a [Boeing] 777, I can build a big, luxurious crew rest suite and carry a double crew,” said Stein, “but you have other challenges in business aircraft, just in the sheer [lack of] space.”
The past April BAC revised the FSF’s seminal Fitness for Duty guidelines published in 1997 by the organization’s Fatigue Countermeasures Task Force, a time when there was little science on the subject. BAC sought input from general aviation operators and scientists, with oversight from business aviation leaders from around the globe. The revised guidelines include refined scientific explanations of circadian rhythm, continuous hours awake and other duty time terminology; current sources of fatigue management background material; and tables of updated duty/rest guidelines in a quick and easily readable format.
The NBAA Safety Committee is also addressing Fitness for Duty, and BAC and FSF have pledged support for the committee’s work; several committee members also sit on the BAC, including Dr. Quay Snyder, regarded as one of the preeminent aeromedical physicians in the U.S.
A Growing Need
BAC has also initiated discussions on how to address safety education and implement best practices in areas experiencing explosive growth in business aviation.
“I’ve been in business aviation 30 years, and we’ve grown up with the manufacturers, starting with flying King Airs and 20-series Learjets,” Stein said, contrasting that to the situation in emerging markets new to business aviation. “You have operators that are jumping in at this very high level, operating long-range business jets, and they haven’t done the maturing process.” BAC is currently studying “how we can leverage the Foundation’s existing network, tools and resources and really try to lend a measure of support all around the world. That’s a big area of focus right now.”
Additionally, BAC is currently investigating lithium-ion batteries, due to concerns about their fire hazards. “We want more guidance on lithium-ion batteries,” Stein said.
The NBAA Convention provides an opportunity for interested parties to learn more about critical safety issues firsthand, get copies of FSF’s Aero Safety World monthly magazine and discuss topics of concern with the organization’s reps, including Stein and Susan Lausch, FSF director of business development and membership. “It’s about listening to our constituents,” said Stein, “and staying responsive and relevant.”
Next on BAC’s schedule is the International Air Safety Summit in Abu Dhabi November 11 to 13, which will include updates from the chairs of the Aircraft Tracking Task Force and the Task Force on Risks to Civil Aviation Arising in Conflict Zones, a report on the FSF Approach and Landing and Go Around Study and a session on unique operational challenges, including turboprop operations.
